§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that the content and quality of school meals is regularly monitored and evaluated. [136735]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggIt is the responsibility of the local education authority or, where a budgetary element for school meals has been delegated to them, a school's governing body to ensure that the statutory nutritional standards for school lunches are met. The Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency, has commissioned research by Kings College London to assess whether food provided for and consumed during school lunches in a sample of 83W maintained secondary schools in England complies with statutory nutritional standards and associated guidance. We expect that the findings of this survey will be available in spring 2004.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to prevent school meals providers from advertising or promoting food or drink with a high fat or sugar content; and if he will make a statement. [136736]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggIt is the responsibility of the governing body to decide what food and drink products should be available or promoted on school premises.
The Department in conjunction with the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers and the National Consumers'Association has published 'Commercial Activities in Schools: best Practice Principles'. The purpose of this guidance is to identify best practice and to ensure that educational benefits are not compromised by commercial considerations.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what training is provided for school governors on(a) their responsibility for ensuring that school meals meet the required standards and (b) the methods to be used for evaluating the quality of school meals. [136737]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe Department for Education and Skills has produced the 'Healthy School Guidance' to help governors and caterers implement the nutritional standards.
The October 2002 newsletter for governors contains a section on nutrition and further information on food related programmes operated by this Department and other organisations. A copy of the governors newsletter can be viewed on the website—www.dfes.gov.uk/governor.
In the publication 'A Guide to the Law for School Governors', chapter five contains information on support and training for governors. This can also be viewed on the website.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the use of new technology to provide a menu assessment tool for primary school meals. [136738]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe Department for Education and Skills has no plans to introduce a menu assessment tool for school meals.
In the Department's Healthy School Lunches guidance for school caterers on implementing the national minimum nutritional standards, there is an example of a self monitoring checklist for compulsory requirements. The guidance includes enough information to monitor the nutritional standards. The guidance can be viewed on the Department's website—www.dfes.gov.uk/schoollunches.